Fluid-operated escapement mechanism

ABSTRACT

A fluid-operated escapement mechanism, which can be used as a counting device, has a member which is moved in predetermined increments by means of jet nozzles. The jets impinge on groups of reaction surfaces, each group having two oppositely inclined reaction surfaces which are arranged so that the member normally moves in one direction in an intermittent manner. The mechanism can provide signals when the member reaches predetermined positions in its travel.

United States Patent Inventor Colin John Kirk Crowthorne, England Appl. No. 4,893 Filed Jan. 22, 1970 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 Assignee Martonair Limited Twiclrenham, Middlesex, England Priority Feb. 19, 1969 Great Britain 8,884/69 FLUID-OPERATED ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 415/148,

415/76 Int. Cl F04d 23/00 Field of Search 415/213,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1887 Richards et a1.

1/ 1907 Cook 7/1909 Hormby. 4/1926 Geiger 3/1954 Krueger FOREIGN PATENTS 1908 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Henry F. Radua'zo Attorney-Mawhinney & Mawhinney ABSTRACT: A fluid-operated escapement mechanism, which can be used as a counting device, has a member which is moved in predetermined increments by means ofjet nozzles. The jets impinge on groups of reaction surfaces, each group having two oppositely inclined reaction surfaces which are arranged so that the member normally moves in one direction in an intermittent manner. The mechanism can provide signals when the member reaches predetermined positions in its travel.

PATENTEU DEB] 4197i SHEET 1 [IF 2 INV Couu Jay-A 2K BY kw h0g4? ATTORNEY 1 FLUID-OPERATED ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM This invention relates to fluid-operated escapement mechanisms and particularly to such mechanisms which include a member which is caused to undergo incremental movements of predetermined amplitude by means of fluid jets.

According to the invention a fluid-operated escapement mechanism comprises a movable member; a plurality of groups of surfaces formed on said member, each group of surfaces having two surfaces oppositely inclined to one another, both said surfaces being at acute angles with respect to the line of movement of the member, and one of the two said surfaces of each said group being inclined at a smaller acute angle than the other said surface; and jet nozzles arranged to be located adjacent said member so as to direct a jet of fluid onto said surfaces to move said member transverse to the direct-ion of flow of the jet in predetermined increments.

Preferably the predetermined increments of movement of said member are equal to the distance between successive equally spaced groups of surfaces and the said two surfaces of each group intersect at a common point or line.

According to a further feature the groups of surfaces are arranged closely adjacent one another along the path of movement of said member.

According to a still further feature the surfaces having the smaller angle intersect with the surfaces having the larger angle at a common point or line.

Preferably one jet nozzle is arranged spaced a distance from another jet nozzle along the direction of movement of said member equal to the spacing between successive groups of surfaces, or a multiple thereof, plus a fraction of said spacing.

Where two jet nozzles are provided one or both of the nozzles may be operable intermittently according to the relative positions of the movable member and the nozzles. Moreover the jet nozzles may be adapted to discharge fluid jets of the same or difl'erent fluid energies.

According to a further feature of the invention signal collecting means is provided whereby when the movable member and one or more of the nozzles are in a predetermined positional relationship a signal is transmitted to the signal collecting means.

Further features of the invention appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a part of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional elevation on the line 22 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation on the line 8-8 in FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation on the line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 a linearly movable member 11 (shown only in part) is formed with a plurality of equally spaced pockets 12, each pocket 12 being defined by parallel sidewalls l3 and by two oppositely inclined reaction surfaces 14 and 15. One reaction surface 14 is at a smaller acute angle (01) to the line of movement of the member 1 than the angle (02) of the other reaction surface 15. The line of movement of the member is indicated by A in the drawing. The surfaces 14 and 15 alternate and intersect on common lines with the adjacent surfaces to form a series of ridges 16 at their upper edges and troughs 17 at their lower edges. Conduits 18 in the troughs 17 communicate between the bases of the pockets l2 and the lower surface of the member 11.

A jet nozzle 19 for discharging pressure fluid has a control valve 30 and is located above the pockets 12 at a right angle to the direction of movement of the member ll. A further jet nozzle 20 for discharging pressure fluid has a control valve 31 and is located above the pockets at a right angle to the direction of movement of the member 11 and the jet noule 20 is directly in alignment with a signal collector conduit 21. The jet nozzle 20 is spaced from the jet nozzle 19 in the direction of movement of the member 11 a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between successive pockets 12 Le. the unit pitch, plus approximately one-half of the distance between successive pockets 12. The jet 19 is, in one mode of operation, a driving jet for moving the indexing member 11 in the direction of movement A, and in said mode of operation the jet 20 is a located jet.

In an alternative arrangement a signal collector conduit is located opposite the jet nozzle 19 in addition to the conduit 21 opposite the jet nozzle 20.

Operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 is as follows.

The location jet nozzle 20 is continuously supplied with pressure fluid of low energy. The driving jet 19 is intermittently supplied with high energy pressure fluid. Starting at the position shown in FIG. 2 thedriving jet 19 impinges on the inclined reaction surface 14 to give a relatively large reaction force to the member 1 1 in the direction of movement A so as to overcome an opposite force on the member 1 1 produced by the jet 20 impinging on the reaction surface 15 and thereby move the member 11 in the direction of the arrow A.

It will be appreciated that the effective driving forces of the jets 19 and 20 are determined from the energy of the jets and the angle of the surface on which they are impinging with respect to the angle of discharge of the jet. In the illustrated arrangement the jets are at right angles to the direction of movement so that we need only consider the angle of the surfaces 14 and 15 with respect to the direction of movement of the member. Thus a jet having constant energy and directed against the surface 14 and the surface 15 gives a reduced moving force in the latter position as compared with the former.

When the jet 19 reaches the trough 17 of the pockets 12 motion of the member is arrested since the jet 19 on further movement of the member impinges on the surface 15 and tends to reverse the movement of the member ll. However the jet 20 is now impinging on the surface 14 and is therefore tending to drive the member in the direction A. The driving force of jet 19 has been reduced due to the increased angle of the surface 15, and the driving force of jet 20 is at the maximum due to its impingement on the surface 14. These forces are balanced and the member therefore assumes a neutral position. The jet from the nozzle 19 is now interrupted by operation of the valve 30 and the member 11 is moved on by the jet from the nozzle 20 acting on the surface 14.

When the jet nozzle 19 is again positioned above the surface 14 the jet of fluid from the nozzle is reapplied and the cycle of movement recommences. Upon each incremental movement of the member 11 beneath the nozzle 20 the fluid flow from the nozzle 20 passes through the conduit 21 in each pocket 12 and enters the signal collector conduit 21 to provide a pulsed signal for control means (not shown) operatively connected to the conduit 21 and for controlling the operation of the valves 30 and 31. Thus the movement of the member is controlled by successive interruption and reapplication of pressure fluid from the jet nozzle 19, Control of the flow of fluid from the nozzle 19 may be effected by the control valve 30 and 31.

An alternative mode of operation of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1-3 is as follows.

Pressure fluid is alternately supplied to the jet nozzles 19 by operation of the valves 30 and 31 so that the nozzles are only discharging fluid when above the reaction surface 14. In the position as shown in FIG. 2 pressure fluid is first applied to noule l9 and the member moves until the nozzle is above a trough 17 when the member comes to rest. Pressure fluid flow to the nozzle 19 is then interrupted and pressure fluid is now directed from the nozzle 20 and the member is again moved until the nozzle 20 is above a trough 17. The increment of movement would in this case be less than the pitch of the pockets.

As a further alternative the mechanism may operate in the last-mentioned manner except that the energy of the jets supplied from the nozzles 19 and 20 may differ.

It will be appreciated that the movable member 11 may be rectilinear and provided with means for returning the member to its initial position when the end of the path of movement is reached, or alternatively the member is an endless member and is continuously movable in one direction, for example in the manner of a conveyor belt.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 a similar indexing device to that in FIGS. 1-3 is shown except that in this embodiment the movable member is of circular form. In the arrangement of FIGS. 4-6 similar parts to those in FIGS. 1-3 are given the same reference numerals.

An indexing member 22 is in the form of a circular disc 23 having around its outer circular periphery a plurality of pockets 12 defined by sidewalls 13 and oppositely inclined reaction surfaces 14 and 15. The pockets 12 have ridges 16 and troughs 17, and a conduit 18 is formed in each trough to communicate between the pocket 12 and the inner surface of the pockets.

Jet nozzles 19 and 20 are located radially of the member 22 and are directed towards the pockets 12. A signal collector conduit 21 is located opposite and in alignment with the jet nozzle 20 and on the inner side of the pockets 12.

The member 22 is arranged for rotation about its central axis (not shown) under the action of pressure fluid from the jet nozzle 19 and the jet nozzle 20 in a similar manner to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The rotation is preferably in increments of the pitch of the pockets 12 or in any other desired increments, control means 30 and 31 in the form of control valves being provided for controlling the operation of the nozzles.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9 a further form of indexing member is shown. In this embodiment similar parts to the previous embodiments are given the same reference numbers and a rotatably movable member 24 is arranged for rotation about a central axis 25, the member 24 being of disclike form having pockets 12 formed in one side of the disc 24 close to the outer periphery 26 of the disc.

The pockets 12 are arranged in a circular path and each pocket 12 has an elliptical shape in plan view as seen in FIG. 7. The pockets have reaction surfaces 14 and 15 and a trough 17 formed at the base of each pocket 12 at the intersection of the surfaces 14 and 15. The reaction surface 14 is at a smaller acute angle to the plane of the disc 24 than the reaction surface and a conduit l8 in the trough l7 communicates between each pocket 12 and the opposite side of the disc 24. A driving jet nozzle 19 having a control valve 30 is located along the path of the pockets l2 and a location jet nozzle 20 having a control valve 31 is also located along the path of the pockets 12 and spaced from the jet member 19 along said path a distance of a multiple of the pocket pitch plus a fraction of a pocket pitch.

A signal collector conduit 21 is located on the side of the disc 24 opposite the jet 20 and in alignment with the jet 20.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 7-9 may be operated in a similar manner to any one of the forms of operation described in relation to the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3.

As an alternative in each embodiment shown an additional signal collector conduit may be arranged opposite the jet nozzles 19 so as to provide an additional pulsed signal as the conduit 18 passes between the nozzle 19 and the associated collector conduit. The additional pulsed signal may also be passed to control means or otherwise as may be required.

It will be appreciated that an alternative or variable indexing movement of the movable member may be obtained by changing the angle of the nozzles with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member and means may be provided for changing this angle either constantly, periodically, or otherwise.

Moreover it will be appreciated that the angles of the reaction surfaces may be selected according to the desired movement of the member.

The conduit 18 may be provided only in selected pockets, for example is every tenth pocket to give pulses for every tenth incremental movement. An additional jet and signal collector conduit may also be provided clear of the pockets and operable in association with an additional conduit extending through the movable member to provide a pulsed signal.

The arrangements described are not limited to only one pair of jets, the jets may be provided in pairs and operable in conjunction with one another. For example in the arrangements of FIGS. 4-6 and 7-9 the pairs of jets may be diametrically opposite one another.

The conduits 18 need not be in the troughs 17 of the pockets 12. They can alternatively be located anywhere along the path of movement of the member.

The angles of the reaction surfaces to the direction of movement of the member and the energy of the jets are carefully selected and balanced to give the desired indexing movement to the member. However the invention is not limited to the angles shown and a desired movement may be obtained by constructing the member with a different relationship between the angles of the surfaces to that shown. The pulsed signals collected during movement of the member may be applied to vary the operation of the jets and/or to control other associated equipment. I

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Stated is:

l. A fluid-operated escapement mechanism comprising a movable member;

a plurality of groups of surfaces formed on said member, each group of surfaces having two surfaces oppositely inclined to one another, both said surfaces being at acute angles with respect to the line of movement of the member, and one of the two said surfaces of each said group being inclined at a smaller acute angle than the other said surface;

two jet nozzles arranged to be located adjacent said member so as to each direct a jet of fluid onto one of said surfaces at any one time;

and control means for controlling the operation of the jet noules, thereby moving said member transverse to the direction of flow of the jet in predetermined increments.

2. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined increments of movement of said member are equal to the distance between successive equally spaced groups of surfaces and the said two surfaces of each group intersect at a common point and the groups of surfaces are arranged closely adjacent one another along the path of movement of said member.

3. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the surfaces having the smaller angle intersect with the surfaces having the larger angle at a common point.

4. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein one jet nozzle is arranged spaced a distance from the other jet nozzle along the direction of movement of said member equal to the spacing between groups of surfaces, plus a fraction of said spacing.

5. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the control means is arranged so that at least one of the nozzles is operable intermittently according to the relative positions of the movable member, and the nozzles are adapted to discharge fluid jets of different fluid energies.

6. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein signal collecting means is provided whereby when the movable member and at least one of the nozzles is in a predetermined positional relationship a signal is transmitted to the signal collecting means.

7. An escapement mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the member includes an aperture and the signal collecting means is arranged adjacent the aperture to receive a fluid flow from a jet nozzle through the aperture when the member is in the said two surfaces in each group are formed between sidewalls extending parallel to the direction of movement of the member.

10. An escapement mechanism according to claim I wherein the two surfaces in each group are formed in pockets formed in a disclike movable member.

l l i 

1. A fluid-operated escapement mechanism comprising a movable member; a plurality of groups of surfaces formed on said member, each group of surfaces having two surfaces oppositely inclined to one another, both said surfaces being at acute angles with respect to the line of movement of the member, and one of the two said surfaces of each said group being inclined at a smaller acute angle than the other said surface; two jet nozzles arranged to be located adjacent said member so as to each direct a jet of fluid onto one of said surfaces at any one time; and control means for controlling the operation of the jet nozzles, thereby moving said member transverse to the direction of flow of the jet in predetermined increments.
 2. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined increments of movement of said member are equal to the distance between successive equally spaced groups of surfaces and the said two surfaces of each group Intersect at a common point and the groups of surfaces are arranged closely adjacent one another along the path of movement of said member.
 3. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the surfaces having the smaller angle intersect with the surfaces having the larger angle at a common point.
 4. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein one jet nozzle is arranged spaced a distance from the other jet nozzle along the direction of movement of said member equal to the spacing between groups of surfaces, plus a fraction of said spacing.
 5. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the control means is arranged so that at least one of the nozzles is operable intermittently according to the relative positions of the movable member, and the nozzles are adapted to discharge fluid jets of different fluid energies.
 6. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein signal collecting means is provided whereby when the movable member and at least one of the nozzles is in a predetermined positional relationship a signal is transmitted to the signal collecting means.
 7. An escapement mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the member includes an aperture and the signal collecting means is arranged adjacent the aperture to receive a fluid flow from a jet nozzle through the aperture when the member is in a predetermined position in relation to said nozzle and said collecting means, and the aperture is located in a trough formed where the said two surfaces of one group of surfaces intersect.
 8. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said movable member is a rotor and said surfaces are movable along a circular path.
 9. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the said two surfaces in each group are formed between sidewalls extending parallel to the direction of movement of the member.
 10. An escapement mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the two surfaces in each group are formed in pockets formed in a disclike movable member. 